Reinforced heel and tap



Aug. 28, 1962 F. M. RONCl 3,050,877

REINFORCED HEEL AND TAP Filed June 16, 1960 FIG.|

INVENTOR.

FERNANDO M. RONCI BY r ATTo Y I tester: Patented Aug. 28, 1962REINFORCED HEEL AND TAP Fernando M. Ronci, Providence, R.I. (2 AtlanticBlvd., Centredale, RI.) Filed June 16, 1960, Ser. No. 36,654 4 Claims.(Cl. 36-34) My present invention relates to the shoe making art and moreparticularly to anovel construction of a heel and tap.

The present invention constitutes a continuation in part of my copendingapplication entitled Reinforced Heel and Tap, Serial Number 756,329,filed August 21, 1958.

, ing movement of the shank 15 in the hole, the shank 15 The principalobject of the present invention is to provide a reinforcing core andnovel tap for a narrow elongated high heel for a womans shoe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tap constructionwhich is rigid, tough and scuff proof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combinationtap and reinforcing core wherein the tap is long wearing and has greatresistance to loosening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heel and tapconstruction which is easy and economical to manufacture and assemble.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, myinvention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosedin the detailed description following, in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a womans shoe having the heel and tap ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of theheel and tap.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the combination tap In certain types ofwomens shoes a very narrow spike heel has become extremely popular.These'heels are normally molded of plastic material and taper from abroad top to a main heel portion which is extremely narrow in diameter.To reinforce these heels, a central veru'cal opening has been madetherein extending through the narrow portion and a metal reinforcingcore or dowel has been forced into the opening. This reinforcing core ordowel is roughened, fluted or provided with threads to prevent movementin the opening. More recently a top lift made of metal has been securedto the end of the reinforcing dowel, This has been found objectionablebecause of the danger of damaging persons, clothing, furniture, rugs andfloors.

The present invention is designed to overcome these defects by providingthe reinforcing core or dowel with a top lift which is tough, longwearing but sufliciently resilient to prevent scufling and other damageand designed to enclose the head of the dowel so. that it will not beexposed.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the shoe 10 is provided with aheel 11 having a broad top heel-seat portion 12 tapering to an elongatednarrow portion 13 which forms a narrow tread end. The heel 11 is made ofplastic material and is provided with a vertical hole 14 which extendsfrom the tread end of the heel upwardly through the narrow portion andwell into the top portion. If desired the hole 14 may be extendedcompletely through the heel; Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, I now providean elongated reinforcing shank 15 preferably of tempered steel. Thereinforcing shank 15'is provided with a tapered snubbed end 16 at oneend and an enlarged head 17 at the other end. The shank '15, whichconstitutes a reinforcing core or dowel is approximately the samediameter as the hole 14 or perhaps slightly greater to produce a tightfit. To prevent turnis illustrated as provided with surface flutings.Other holding means such as a self-driving screw or knurlings can alsobe used. The shank 15 canthus be forced into the hole 14 as shown inFIG. 2 until the shoulders on the enlarged head 17 abut the tread end ofthe heel.

The tap or lift for the bottom of the heel is preferably made of asuitable tough plasticmaterial. It can be made of nylon, polyethylene,urethane or any of the modern moldable materials which combine toughnesswith some resiliency. In the form illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 the tap18 is molded directly to the enlarged head 17 so that the head 17 isembedded in the tap and will be unexposed. after assembly. To furtherlock the tap to the head during the molding operation, the head 17 maybe provided with flutings as shown in FIG. 2. In assembly the tap 18 ismolded to the head 17 as shown in FIG. 3 and the shank 15 is then driveninto the hole 14 as shown in FIG. 2. The shank 15 thus acts as areinforcing core and also serves to hold the tap on the heel.

For additional interlocking of the tap and the head, the form.-shown inFIG. 4 may be used. In this form the heel 19 is provided with a centralhole and a reinforcing shank 20 similar to the shank 15. However, thehead 21 is grooved or undercut. When. the tap 22 is molded to the head21 the grooved portion interlocks with I the tap to hold it in place.

In the form shown in FIG. 5 the head on the reinforcing shank iscompletely embedded in the tap material.

In this form the heel 23 is provided with the same central hole and thesame reinforcing shank 24. However the shank head 25 is completelyembedded in the-material of the tap 26. To avoid too much thickness, thehead 25 should be thinner than in the forms shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Inall of the forms shown the interlocking of the head and the tap may beaccomplished by alternative means such as providing a square head toprevent turning of the tap or by any other means.

I have thus provided an improved heel having a reinforcing core or dowelin which a tap is molded directly and securely to the dowel head so thatno metal is exposed but the dowel serves to hold the tap on the heel.Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to aperson skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A shoe heel lift attachment for insertion into ahole located in ashoe heel comprising a roughened elongated shank of a size adapted to beforced into said hole and to form a grip therein by means of theroughened portion, a head on said shank, and a solid synthetic-resinplastic lift molded to said head, the head being constituted by aninterlocking form substantially embedded in said plastic lift, wherebythe shank is strongly attached in the heel by said grip and the lift isinterlockingly ad- I hered to the head.

2. A reinforced heel having a body portion of relatively weak materialprovided at its upper end with a relatively large heel-seat surface andat its lower end with a relatively small tread end, the body portionbeing interiorly provided with a hole extending longitudinally of thebody portion from the tread end toward the heelseat surface, and anelongated reinforcing shank constituted of material much harder thanthat of the body portion driven into the hole, the reinforcing shankbeing roughened to grip therein, a head on said shank, and a in saidplastic lift, whereby the shank is strongly attached in the heel by saidgrip and the lift is interlockingly adhe red to the head. 7

"3. A heel for-a womans shoe comprising a' broad top heel-seat portiontapering to an elongated very narrow bottom portion to form a narrowhigh heel having a very narrow tread end, said heel having a centralvertical hole' extending from the tread end through said narrow porsaidhole through said narrow portion of said heel, means for-frictionallyretaining said reinforcing shank in said hole,- said reinforcing shankhaving an enlarged flat head, a tap for the tread end of saidheel, saidhead being grooved and said tap being molded to said head.

4. A plastic heel for a womans shoe comprising a broad heel-seat topportion tapering to an elongated very 1 narrow bottom portion to form anarrow high heelhaving a very narrow tread end, said heel having acentral 7 solid plastic lift molded to said head, the head beingconstituted by an interlocking form substantially embedded g r 4 avertical hole extending from the tread end through said narrow portion,an elongatedrigid hardened steelreinforcing shank extending into saidhole through said narrow portion of said heel, means for frictio'nallyretaining said reinforcing shank in said hol e, sa.id means includinglongitudinal flutings onsaidshank, said reinforcing shank I having anenlarged flat head, a tap for the tread end of 'tion, an elongated rigidreinforcing shank extending into said heel, said head being grooved andsaid tap 'being molded to said head. I Y

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 OwenApr. 23, 1929 France -Mar.- 7,

Disclaimer 3,050,877.Fe-7mmd0 111' Rzmci, Providence, RI. REINFORCEDHEEL AND TAP. Patent dated Aug. 28, 1962. Disclaimer filed Aug. 4, 1972,by the invent-0r. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 2 ofsaid patent.

[Oyficial Gazette January 16, 1,973.]

